Goals:

1-0: Colback (74, pounced on Sissoko’s lay-off to find the bottom corner of Begovic’s net)

1-1: Crouch (90, towered above Janmaat to nod in Cameron’s deep cross)

Bookings: Moses (15, foul); Ireland (22, foul); Whelan (33, foul); Ameobi (35, foul); Colback (53, foul)

Referee: Kevin Friend (Walsall) – seemed intent on even the cards tally up and had little need to dish out as many cautions as he did. 5

Attendance: 47, 763

Entertainment: PP

Newc Stoke

Shots on 3 3

Shots off 6 4

Corners 5 8

Offsides 2 3

Fouls 14 17

NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1):

6 Krul: Made a stunning save at the end of the half to keep out Diouf’s diving header;

6 Janmaat: Started positively and linked well with Cabella but then beaten in the air at the death by the towering Crouch

7 Coloccini: Made a number of fine headers and blocks to frustrate Stoke when they attacked

6 Williamson: Combined well with Coloccini to keep the red and white shirts at bay

6 Haïdara: Was a key mover in an attacking sense in the first half but faded;

5 Anita: The game just seemed to pass him by in the middle while others buzzed around him

6 Colback: Could have picked up a second yellow card moments before he struck the opener;

7 Cabella: Was the main creator for the Magpies even if he fluffed his lines a couple of times

6 Sissoko: Drove from deep regularly enough without testing the Stoke backline sufficiently and teed up the opener

6 Ameobi: Enjoyed a far better first half and unable to keep up that standard after the restart;

7 Perez: Showed some lovely touches and unlucky to see a first half effort bounce inches wide of the far post; wasted a late chance

Subs:

Cisse (for Anita 65): Tried to get involved. 5

Obertan (for Cabella 69): Integral to the opener before wasting a fantastic chance for a second. 6

Abeid (for Ameobi 86)

(not used): Gouffran, Riviere, Dummett, Woodman (gk).

STOKE CITY (4-3-3); BEGOVIC 7; Bardsley 6, Muniesa 6, Wollscheid 6, Wilson 5 (Cameron 51, 5); Whelan 7, Nzonzi 7, Ireland 6 (Crouch 82); Diouf 6, Walters 6, Moses 5. Subs: Palacios, Adam, Sidwell, Butland (gk), Wilkinson.

MAN OF THE MATCH: FABRICIO Coloccini – was crucial at the back throughout and the Magpies could have done with him marking Crouch late on.